Korean slang profile
절친
jeolchin
A close friend
An abbreviation referring to a very close friend.
- Expanded form
- 절친한 친구A close friend
- Other spellings
- —
- Earliest source found
- May 27, 2009
- Documented trend period
- Not verified
This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.
01Examples, with English translations
- Example by Julimmal
절친이랑 같은 팀에서 뛰게 됐대.
Apparently they get to play on the same team as their close friend.
- Quoted from a source
‘절친(절친한 친구의 줄임말)’이자 팀동료였던 선배를 이제 같은 지구 적으로 만난다.[2]
They now face their former teammate and close senior friend as an opponent in the same division.
English translation by Julimmal.
02Documented history
03Origin & word formation
Short for “절친한 친구.” The 2023 source from MK Sports explicitly gives this explanation. Who first used it and when have not been verified.
Evidence for the origin explanationHigh
The explanation is explicit in the sources, and at least two sources use the same meaning. When it was first used is unknown.
04Sources
Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.
- 케이블채널 “스타의 친구 되고 싶으면 연락해!” (동아일보)Published May 27, 2009Original source checked Nov 5, 2026
- 김하성과 맞대결 앞둔 이정후 "신기하고 설렌다" [현장인터뷰] (MK스포츠)Published Dec 16, 2023Original source checked Nov 5, 2026